Last-Minute Montreal

By: Dijana Semovski
Below: Montreal apartments in St. Denis
Now that we’ve learned a bit about shopping, cafeterias, creperias, architecture and things to do while in Old and New Montreal, you’re going to need at least one evening of decadence while on this trip, before following up with some last-minute boutique hopping.

Boasting its "supper club" scene, St. Laurent is Montreal’s prominent street. Supper clubs are restaurants where large groups can reserve a table around dinner-time and stick around afterward, as a DJ transforms the restaurant into a night lounge. During the summer, you can pretty much walk down the street and pick and choose which supper club you want to go to. Of course, if you just want to hit up the lounge scene, there’s always eateries open afterwards, which serve late night poutine. Montreal’s guilty pleasure, poutine consists of pomme frites (or french fries in English), which is topped with gravy, and cheese. You must try poutine while visiting (as well as bagels)!

If you’re not tired from your long evening out, you can get some last-minute shopping in by heading to St. Denis the following morning. It’s a great street to do your shopping as the boutiques are a bit more authentic and less mainstream, while imports include unique and modern design-centric clothing from Italy and other European designers. Additionally, like the boutiques, you’ll notice unique housing while on your shopping stroll as well. Check out my picture of the colorful apartments above. Some of the locals living here informed me that their quarters in Montreal tend to be smaller, because people spend most of their time in cafes and being "out and about."

Old Montreal, New Montreal, cafeterias, creperias, supper clubs and shopping. That pretty much breaks down your week in Montreal. Sure, it may not be Paris, but being the second largest French-speaking city in the world, it’s a great alternative for a quick weekend getaway or a New Year’s destination, if you don’t have the time or funds to make a big trip to Europe.

Extra: If visiting during Montreal’s summer months, beginning from June 29th to July 9th, the city hosts an annual International Jazz Festival. It also coincides with their Canadian Independence Day, on July 1strd. If interested in racing, the Grande Prix weekend, also takes place in June, and is filled with Italian-speaking tourists, who seem to have captured this event the most.

To read more of Dijana's adventures, follow Dijana's Dare to Blog...

City of the Week: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

By: Dijana Semovski

Oo lala! Montreal, although it may not be Paris, sure comes pretty close. The second largest city in Canada and the largest city in Quebec, province of Canada, Montreal’s original name was Ville-Marie (City of Mary). However, the city takes its current name from Mont-Royal or Mont Re`al in Middle French, where a three-headed hill at the heart of the city lies.

French is the city’s official language, and many are surprised to learn that it’s the second largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris of course. Similarly, citizens just might believe it’s the Paris of the west, as even some of the architecture mimics the city of lights. The city’s Notre Dame Basilica for instance, was actually made from the same architecture as the Notre Dame Basilica in Paris.

On Wednesday we’ll take a tour through Old and New Montreal, visiting the cafes, boutiques, people and food, which truly helps Montreal make its mark as one of the greatest cities in the world.

Read more of Dijana's adventures (pronounced Deanna) at, Dijana's Dare to Blog.